How do tourists move through the city – and how can visitor flows be managed in a way that benefits the city, the environment and visitors alike? The research project Smart Visitor Flows Berlin addresses these questions using surveys, digital mobility data and innovative analytical approaches.
Together with students, tourists are surveyed on site about their routes, modes of transport and places visited. In addition, movement patterns are recorded via an app. This approach provides detailed insights into real mobility behaviour: typical routes, sequences of visits, highly frequented hotspots, less visited neighbourhoods, as well as different visitor types and mobility styles.
These insights are particularly relevant in the context of the current debate on overtourism. In the long term, growing visitor numbers in cities can only be managed through active visitor flow management, attractive alternative offers and the targeted relief of sensitive areas.
The results are prepared in a way that directly supports tourism stakeholders such as VisitBerlin in managing visitor flows. This includes clearly defined visitor types, recommendations for alternative routes and time slots, information on less frequented neighbourhoods, as well as details on events and cultural offerings. The project thus contributes a practical tool for data-driven visitor management.
For the high-resolution, GDPR-compliant collection of tourist mobility patterns, the project uses the technology of its partner motiontag. The software automatically detects modes of transport and reconstructs mobility trajectories without requiring time-consuming manual input. This enables robust, evidence-based insights into typical routes, behavioural changes and the effects of digital visitor management tools. Detailed information on app usage and data protection is available on this page.
The research focus is embedded in a broader academic discourse. Insights from expert events – including the International Conference on Sustainable Urban Transport in Cities with Tourist Destinations (SRH University Campus Berlin, June 2025) – feed into the further development of research questions and analyses. Topics discussed include governance approaches, technological solutions and good practices for addressing overtourism and promoting sustainable mobility.
At the same time, Smart Visitor Flows Berlin is open to cooperation with research institutions, operators of tourist attractions, points of interest and local accommodation providers. Joint studies may examine visitor profiles, capacity and utilisation patterns, arrival and departure behaviour, as well as the impacts of information and management measures. In this context, master’s theses and research projects are also offered; interested candidates are invited to contact Prof Dr Frank Wolter.
